Swing Joined: 7/13/05
Julie Danao-Salkin
Has anyone seen her in anything else?
I think she is Wonderful.
Just out of curiosity, I haven't heard anyone mention Mandy Gonzalez. I think she's great, and quite a talented performer. Can someone elaborate on her performance in Lennon at all?
Thanks!
Phantom05
Featured Actor Joined: 3/21/05
Phantom05: Compared to some of the other performers, Mandy has a considerably smaller role. Her main solo is the song "How Do You Sleep?" in Act 1, which is interlocked with the breaking up of the Beatles (Mandy stands upstage, stationary under the lights - very gorgeous) -- She's also "Beatle John of the early years", when the 4 women in the show are doubling as the newbie Beatles group (singing "Twist and Shout" and "Money", which Mandy rocks out HARD on with the bigger solos in those short-ass songs.)
She also doubles as an extra, playing multiple bit (yet memorable) characters throughout - which most of the cast does, like Terrence, Marcy and Julia - She's Geraldo Rivera at one point, several different reporters, an FBI agent along with Julia, and a handful of others.
While this IS an ensemble piece, there are obviously actors who take center stage more often... Like Will and Chad (even Michael and Terrence occasionally) as the Johns, Julie as Yoko, Chuck as almost this benevolent ball of wisdom on stage... Unfortunately, some of the big talent, like Julia, Mandy, Marcy, sometimes Terrence... they are used less. THOUGH, I must state, what they DO HAVE is phenomenal. Mandy is just gorgeous, and whether she's center stage or not, she definitely made an impression on me :)
Stand-by Joined: 7/26/05
This is quite long, and I apologize for the length, but I am passionate about this show.
I saw LENNON last Saturday night and there were three performers out: Chad, Julie and Michael. When I chatted with some of the regulars after the show, two of them mentioned that all of the changes are taking their toll on the cast and that some had to call out sick. It happens.
This was my third visit to previews and from what I heard Chad had been out quite a few times. Two out of the three times I saw LENNON, I saw Darin in the role. I remember Chad's speaking voice as sounding a lot like Lennon's accent; but I don't know if it is because he looks so much more like John Lennon to me, but I am getting used to seeing Darin in the role now. I have never seen Darin perform before, and although I saw GOOD VIBRATIONS twice, I don't remember Chad in it; so, I don't have any bias for one actor over the other, they both seem fine to me. But Darin absolutely has the Lennon look. Even though I love Will Chase's performance and he does look like John Lennon, I think Darin looks even more like Lennon.
This is just a personal observation, because it doesn't really matter if the performers look like Lennon at all. The message is "we are all one." The whole idea of men and women, older and younger, black and white, playing the roles makes the look less important. I think it works very well.
I also feel that Terry is doing a terrific job, and I don't believe he looks out of place at all. I don't care what color his hair is either...also irrelevant, but the brown makes him not stand out so much against the basically black and white background. However, as far as age goes, that man has more energy than most half his age. Does anyone who has complained here have half an idea of the stamina that is needed to do a Broadway show like this? And, while I don't mean to put anyone else down, Chuck Cooper who is also in the show doesn't appear to be all that young, but no one ever mentions him. Could it be because he doesn't have the silver hair? Terry looks younger than Chuck to me. I could be wrong, but appearance wise, I'm guessing the median age for the cast of this show is around 33-35. I believe that Mandy is in her twenties, but not too many others appear that young. But as I said before age is as irrelevant as color or gender in this show, and shouldn't matter.
Could this show be done by fewer actors? Initially, I thought yes because as a lot of other people have noted here, it would give these terrific performers each more to do, if there were, say, seven instead of nine performers. But, as we are seeing here with all of the changes and understudies having to go on, it's a good thing that there are nine performers. There are very few understudies listed in the playbill. I think each of them covers at least three of the performers. What would they do if the three actors being understudied by the same person are all out? It could get crazy.
Although I may have said it here before, it's worth repeating what one of the performers in LENNON told me the second night of previews, (paraphrase) that sometimes it's not only about one cast member being in the spotlight or with the largest part; it's about being part of the whole show experience.
I'm going again Friday night, and it should be interesting to see if the show is "frozen" by then.
Featured Actor Joined: 3/21/05
definitely let us know if it's close to frozen on friday.
I agree with everything that you said, well put. I'm so passionate about this show, it's hard to see it unjustly bashed. It's one thing if you see it and it's not your thing, but it's completely another to make assumptions without stepping foot into the theatre.
I can't wait until the show is set, it'll be a lot easier on the performers. They definitely need that.
I just wanted to chime in and say how much I love Chuck Cooper!! He just rocks in everything he does.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/05
Saw Lennon again last night, Chad was back. The new ending is SO GREAT - -
I really love this show, just as much as Starbuck apparently.
I have to say the audience and the cast was just SO HOT !
The majority of the posts describe the exact show I saw long ago in SF. So much for changes. As for Murney, she simply doesn't have much to do. And I agree, there could be less actors on stage without changing the story at all. Obviously, it's still a mess.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
After having pondered this show for a few weeks, and having gone back to see it again a few days ago, I must mention now what I feel is the BIG problem with the show:
No clear message. In a show that is told more than shown (i.e. Godspell or Hair), the message must be heightened. This show just doesn't do that.
If the message is that we are all one, why do the young white men get to be John more often than the black woman? Because the creatives are pandering to an audience they assume is not smart enough to imagine a black woman is a dead white man.
If the message is anti-war, why do we only get the one moment of it at the end of the acts?
If the message is just to tell the story of a human, why tell it in a displaced style...why not use theatre convention and just tell it using one John? I know John would be unconventional, but he also would have a reason for being so -- not just to spite the system.
Stand-by Joined: 7/26/05
I'd like to respond to some of the questions raised by touchmeinthemorning, but I don't want to repeat myself. If you're interested in my response, please go to the post originally entitled, 8/6 LENNON EVENING PERFORMANCE, and you can read my thoughts regarding these questions.
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